Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-25

official register of the United States
government, the salaries or compen-
sation of its officers or contractors com
pensstion, for instance, of additional
J service ordered to be performed, is
indicated by an asterisk. Every extra
allowance beyond the stipulations of the
! original contract was thus designated.
As the route of Mr. Smith was one OF rapid
development, his entries of service were
sbundsntly. thus marked. The circum-
stance was noted in debate by Benjamin
Watkins Leigh, from Virginia, who,
without calling the name of Mr.. Smith,
yet affixed upon him the lifelong soubri-
| quet of extra Billy"
His history is not confined to the mail
contracting business. In 1918, when he
was twenty-one years old, he settled at
Culpepper and began legal practice. At
the same time he eagerly entered the pc
liticaI arena as vigorous and favorite
exponent of Democratic doctrine. He
was firm believer in strict construction,
frugality in public expenditure and hon
esty in the public servant. During eigh-
teen years he took active part in all polit-
icGl campaigns without being candidate
for any public position. In 1880, against
his own wishes, he was elected a member
OF the state Senate for four years. He
was reelected for another four years
term, but resigned after serving
one year. He was the represent
alive of his district in the Con-
gress which expired IN March, 1913.
Under the reapportionment Of that year
the district was so arranged as to give it
large Wing msjority. Mr.. Smith then
removed to WarrentOn and resumed
active work in his profession. In letter
written three years ago Governor Smith
thus describes his first election as Gov
ernor of the Old Dominion: Everything
was going well with me, when, in Decgm-
Der, 1916, having just returned from one
of my courts, was addressed by enc of
my friends as Governor Smith. | asked
him what he meant by thus addressing
me. He said that was the Governor-elect
of Virginia. [ replied that l trusted
it was not so, but so it proved. .
The Legislature at that time
elected our Governor, aud, without
having the idea suggested to me by hui
man being, found myself elected Gov
ernor for three years from January l,
1876. The salary was wholly inadequate |
to support the proper Inequalities of the
position. had no private fortune to sup
ply the deficiency, and public opinion
would not allow the Governor to practice |
his profession, l wrote to my friends !
that they had placed me in cruel diem |
ma; that I wanted bread and they gave me |
q stone; that | should have to decline the |
high position to which they had elected |
me. There was no help for it. But did
accept, served out my term and returned |
to my home" In April, 1850, Gov
ernor Smith sailed for California, and |
on reaching San Francisco announced /
himself ready for legal practice. He was
previous notice to him or solici- |
tation on his part made president Of the !
first Democratic state convention held in /
the new state David Broderick, after |
ward United States Senator from Cali
fornia, became jealous Of Mr.. Smiths in
fuence in the party. The quarrel resulted |
in duel between Broderick and James
Caleb Smith, son of the Governor, who
haG preceded his father IN emigrating to
the new E!dorado. 1t took place at Sac
ramento and was witnessed by 5000 peo-
pie, Governor Smith being one of the
spectators, According TO the rules
of the code each was to sur |
render all articles from his pockets. |
Broderick, drawing his watch from his
fob pocket, offered to surrender that if
Smith so desired, but Smith intimsting
that it was Inmsterial, Frederick re-
stored il TO Lis fob. Smith put four balls /
through Broderick's watch and cut the
chain with another. Smith was IN I
touched and Broderick uninjured. The |
watch was hung up in public place in i
Sacramento. Governor Smith returned
to Virgins in the autumn Of 1852. In
March, 1858, he was elected to Congress |
and served four successive terms. In
June, 1861, he was commissioned colonel
of the Forty Seventh Virginia Confed
crate Volunteers, and was soon after
elected from his camp men, |
Der OF the Confederate Congress, |
in which he served one session, resigning !
in May, 1862, to return to his military |
being soon after promoted as
brigadier and major general. In 1868 he I
was elected by the people Governor for
term of four years, from January |, 1864.
Since the war he has served one term in
the State House of Delegates for special
purpose. At the advanced Gge of sixty
three he entered the Confederate service
and among host of brave men distln-
guished himself signalIy by his GOODNESS,
and bravery on the battle field
He will be long remembered as one of the
most remarkable men of the century.
Carlisle.
Rockwall News.